Central Park: More than Just Homes

by Frances Tanner.

[accompanying photo missing]

The Central Park subdivision west of Merivale Road will include much
more than just the townhouses and single family homes now being built, if
the developer Ashcroft Homes is successful in its re-zoning application.

Aside from one strip mall already approved under the original plan of
subdivision when the Region owned the land, Ashcroft is seeking to add a
further strip mall at 1230 Merivale, just south of Merivale Manor
apartments, and a "big box" retail store at the far south end, next to
Nortel.

"You will see a sign within three weeks," predicts City of Ottawa
planner Cheryl Brouillard. Instead of adding another office building, as
originally planned, Ashcroft would like to build a very large retail store
-- about 80,000 square feet -- with the typical sea of asphalt parking
facing Merivale.

Some area residents welcome the prospect of more shopping choice and a
large potential employer. One rumour is that Provigo might put a
superstore there. Other residents, such as the Carlington Community
Association publicity director Mark Lavinskas, question the competitive
position of another large grocery store. It just doesn't add anything to
the neighbourhood," says Lavinskas. "I'm concerned as much for the
Merivale strip who have long been suffering with dwindling profits. It's
just going to slice the pie smaller. I don't think it fits in. It would
certainly change my mind if I were moving in to one of those homes."

Ottawa Councillor Karin Howard feels efforts are bing made to ease the
transition. "There is this spectre of what is the big box going to look
like, but I am encourage by the way the developer wants to work with the
community. A mixed community is a good thing. It's great for the kids
to be able to skip off for a quart of milk. There is potential and I
think the developer cares."

So far, Ashcroft has only submitted detailed plans to the City for
about 20% of the land they own. The other plans are finished, and will be
the subject of negotiations with City staff, and possible some re-zoning
applications, over the course of the fall. "We are consciously developing
a community where people will be able to live, shop and enjoy recreation
within the city," says Suzanne Johnson, director of sales an marketing for
Ashcroft Homes. "There are about 35 shops along Merivale... I would hope
people see us a positive development that will make their neighbourhood
more enjoyable." Johnson is particularly proud of the little malls which
have stores facing Merivale and townhouses above the stores, facing in
towards Central Park. This, as well as the brick facades on the housing
along Central Park Drive, will give the area an "urban feel," she says.
She also points out that Ashcroft is planning to build only low-rise,
owner-occupied bungalows, townhouses and single family homes. The former
zoning would have permitted several apartment buildings.

"Things are not going to be exactly as they were going to be, and that
can be both good and bad," points out Councillor Howard. "The density is
lower than it could have been. A little greenway corridor does connect
Central Park Drive to the woods." Howard is more concerned about the
potential impact of development on the western side of the Clyde-Merivale
lands. The former Assaly lands are now held by a developer called
Amresco, which is in the unfortunate position of owning everything except
the one piece of land it needs for an intersection at Clyde and Maitland.
That property belongs to the Department of Communications, which is not
selling. Without and exit on to Clyde, Amresco can either leave the land
unbuilt, or seek to have all its streets flow towards Merivale. "I don't
think it's in Carlington's interest to accept all the traffic from the
Amresco side and people should keep and eye on that," warns Howard.

If it looks like we don't mind a few thousand extra cars a day on
Merivale, we will get the traffic. Johnson presents the traffic plan as a
done deal, and no big problem. "Baseline and Merivale's traffic was
substantially relieved by the Hunt Club extension," she says. "The two
separate ends of Central Park Drive will easily accommodate all the
traffic." She expects a bus route to run in and around the development,
and has sold houses to many people who want to be close to work so that
they can do without a second car. "They bike over to us now to see how
their houses are coming along."

Within the development, the street pattern may not give pedestrians
and cyclists a north-south route to replace the well-ward, if unofficial
footpaths to Laurentian, Nortel and Loblaws. According to Brouillard,
Ashcroft did agree to add some sidewalks that will let pedestrians walk to
the new large store without going along Merivale. These will connect to
a footpath from the bicycle path where it enters the Clyde woods. Other
paths, says Johnson, would be more problematic. Neither Ashcroft or
Amresco can add paths or roads leading to private property, so they will
not likely leave room for access to Baseline Road. There are no
recreational facilities on the map yet, but it is likely the City will
look for tot lots and one somewhat sizeable park in the next phase.
Again, the level of amenities depends on the vigilance of community
residents. Only one member of public, and no one from the Carlington
Community Association, attended an August meeting of the Region's
Transportation Committee at which traffic signals for Merivale Road and
Central Park Drive were approved without at fuss. "I need any support the
community can offer," pleaded Howard.

If you wish to be kept informed about the Ashcroft development, call
the Councillor's office at 244-5365.